Disability Services

At Lesley, we’re committed to providing equal and integrated access to academic, social, cultural, and recreational programs for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This commitment is grounded not only in the law*, but also in our commitment to an inclusive community for all members.

Our Disability Services team works with faculty, staff, and students to make appropriate adjustments to provide this access. Educational access includes the provision of classroom accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services.

Accommodations allow all students equal opportunities inside the classroom, around campus, and at university-sponsored events off campus.

*Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other relevant state and federal regulation.

Types of Accommodations

Our Disability Services Office approves and facilitates the following accommodations:

Academic accommodations are adjustments or supports to course-related requirements, according to disability-related needs. Some of our academic accommodations include deadline extensions for assignments, conversion of textbooks and course materials into electronic format for use with technology, and use of tutors, aides, or writing assistants.

Testing accommodations are adjustments to exams and quizzes to make the testing environment accessible, based on the nature of the disability. Examples include extended time for exams, a distraction-free environment, reader, scribe, or large print.

Classroom accommodations are adjustments to the classroom experience to make it accessible for students, according to their disability-related needs. Examples are special chairs, seating in a specific part of the classroom, note-taking services, and approved use of technology, such as a computer or Smartpen.

Students living on campus may have a food-related disability that limits their ability to participate in our meal program, such as food allergies or an autoimmune disease like Celiac disease. These students may need a modification to the university's mandatory meal plan.

Requirements for Students

As a university student, you have new freedoms and responsibilities. While at Lesley, you’re expected to manage your own time and schedule, seek out assistance or resources, and advocate for yourself.

If you’re a student seeking accommodation, you’ll need to:

Self-identify as a person with disability at our Disability Services Office

Provide sufficient documentation of disability from an appropriate healthcare professional

Arrange for and obtain your own personal assistants and individually designed assistive technologies

Keep in mind that accommodations provided to you in high school may not be appropriate at the college level. As a post-secondary institution, Lesley is not required to:

Reduce or waive any of the essential requirements of a course or program

Conduct testing and assessment of learning, psychological, or medical disabilities

Provide personal assistants

Prepare Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

"Disability Support Services is a catalyst for ensuring students' equity and excellence in education, maximizing their potential while helping them develop and maintain independence. Our philosophy encourages self-awareness, self-determination, self-advocacy, and independence while providing a safe, caring and respectful environment that supports growth and learning."

Disability Services Team

How to Request Classroom, Academic, Testing, or Meal Accommodations

Students should follow these 4 steps to request disability-related accommodations.

You’ll need to provide documentation of your disability from an appropriate healthcare provider who is treating you for the condition for which the accommodation is requested. Once we’ve determined that your documentation is appropriate, we’ll work with you to provide reasonable and timely accommodations.

We provide accommodations on a case-by-case basis. We’ll meet with you to discuss your documentation, your eligibility for accommodations, any potential accommodations, and next steps.

If you’re eligible, we’ll work with you to determine which reasonable accommodations will be provided, and we'll prepare accommodation letters for faculty.

You're under no obligation to disclose the nature of your disability to anyone; however, if you're requesting accommodations, you'll need to provide documentation of your disability to Disability Services and share your accommodation letter with faculty.

You’ll then return it to the Disability Services Office and also keep a copy for your own records.

Denied Accommodation Requests

Lesley engages with each student in response to the student’s request for accommodations and determines whether it will be granted. The university may propose alternative reasonable accommodations for a student request.

If an accommodation is denied, you may appeal the decision to the ADA/504 Coordinator, Daniel Newman, using the Accommodation Appeal Form (PDF). You may reapply for the accommodation for the next semester.

Circumstances in which academic, classroom, meal, or testing accommodations will be denied include, but are not limited to:

If the university determines that providing an accommodation would present an undue burden, the university does not need to provide the accommodation. If a request can’t be accommodated, the university will seek to work with you to identify whether there are alternative accommodations that don’t present an undue burden.

Personal services are those that a person with a disability must use regardless of attendance at the university. Personal services may include independent living or personal care attendants, transportation other than shuttle services, diagnostic testing, and rehabilitation, among others. If a request for an accommodation falls under the definition of a personal service, the university denies the request because it is unreasonable. The university won't provide individually prescribed devices.

If a requested accommodation would cause a significant risk to the health or safety of others, the university will deny the accommodation.

Requesting Accommodations and Student Choice

When choosing among reasonable accommodations, Lesley can’t guarantee that you’ll be provided your preferred accommodation choices. If your preferred choice isn’t granted, then the university will provide equally effective alternatives, subject to the limitations described above.

Your healthcare provider must be treating you for the condition for which the accommodation is requested. Use the same forms listed above on this page and return them to Disability Services. Most of our housing decisions are made well before the start of the next semester, so you’ll need to follow the deadlines established by our Residence Life Office.

Decision and Appeals for Housing Accommodations

We'll notify you in writing of our decision on housing accommodation requests. The decision is based on the medical necessity of the accommodation.

If an accommodation is denied, you may appeal the decision to the ADA/504 Coordinator, Daniel Newman using the Accommodation Appeal Form (PDF). You may reapply for the accommodation for the next semester.